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Hendon Hooker shares what his weekly pregame prayer is

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•10/31/22
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Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker points to the sky while on the run during a win over LSU on Oct. 8, 2022. (Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker is one of the leading candidates in the 2022 Heisman Trophy race, piling up huge numbers for the No. 2 Volunteers, who are off to an 8-0 start. And the veteran quarterback is a man of routine, sticking to the same weekly pregame prayer each week.

He revealed what that prayer generally is on Monday.

“It’s the same prayer every time. I’m a routine type of guy,” Hooker said. “Just praying over my family, thanking God for safe travel. Then praying for my brother. Last game his was earlier than mine, but sometimes if I’m playing earlier than him then I’m praying for him and his safety. Then just praying that God touches my mind, my hands, my feet to just go out there and do what he’s blessed me to do: to put on a show.”

Hooker’s brother, Alston Hooker, is currently a redshirt freshman quarterback at N.C. A&T.

Hendon, though, has powered the nation’s top-ranked offense all year long. He’ll look to do it again on Saturday, going on the road to face No. 1 Georgia in a game that will certainly shape the SEC title race and the College Football Playoff race.

Weekly pregame prayer powering Hendon Hooker

Whatever Hooker is doing this season, Volunteers fans will surely want him to keep it going this weekend.

Tennessee will enter the game against Georgia as an 8.5-point underdog, but the Volunteers have yet to back down from anyone all year long. After getting in his weekly pregame prayer, Hooker has shredded just about every opponent he has faced.

The senior quarterback is currently 156-of-219 passing for 2,338 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has thrown only one interception. He’s also added 73 carries for 338 yards and four scores on the ground.

He’ll look to keep things going Saturday against the Bulldogs.

Tennessee hasn’t needed many Hail Marys during actual games this year, beating opponents by an average 28.4 points per game. Only three opponents have kept their losing margin to single-digits.

Georgia will obviously put that to the test this weekend.